Public Finance Management Specialist

Job Description

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Public Finance Management Specialist
Position Type (full/part time): Part Time
Duration/Level of Effort (long/short term): Short Term
Position Location (e.g. city, country, remote): Metro Manila, Philippines with virtual coordination if necessary

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

The DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) Social Protection, Inclusion and Gender Equality (SPRING) program is Australia’s flagship investment of support to the Philippine Government on Social Protection, Gender Equality, Disability, Social Inclusion and Indigenous Inclusion. It is an AUD 40 million investment over 5 years that will support the joint Development Partnership Plan (DPP 2024-2029) between the Government of Australia and the Philippine Government. The investment is DFAT’s primary avenue in the Philippines for supporting poverty reduction and bilateral funding on gender equality and social inclusion at the national level and with some select Local Government Units (LGUs). SPRING supports efforts under Australia’s new International Development Policy and DFAT’s forthcoming new strategies on gender equality, disability equity, and rights, and translate these into implementation in the Philippines.    
SPRING contributes to the goal that the social and economic transformation in the Philippines reduces poverty and provides equal opportunities to all Filipinos in line with the Philippine Development Plan. 
The objective of SPRING is that Australia works in partnership with the Philippine Government to improve systems and structures that reduce poverty and inequality, and advance gender equality and the rights of people with disabilities.  
SPRING has four mutually reinforcing End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs):  

1. Philippine Government social protection plans, policies and programs increasingly close gaps in the social protection floor.
2. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and select LGU systems increasingly deliver quality social protection that is inclusive, gender and shock responsive, and climate sensitive. 
3. The Philippine Government increasingly invests in gender responsive policies, plans, programs and systems.
4. The Philippine Government improves data, systems and targeting to enable people with disability and Indigenous Peoples improved access to targeted service.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

The Public Financial Management (PFM) Specialist will provide short-term technical expertise to support the fiscal space and public financing analysis for the Old Age Social Protection Floor (SPF) study. Working under the supervision of the Team Leader and in collaboration with the Sr. Economist, the PFM Specialist will engage with government counterparts to assess viable financing options for expanding the social pension, including reviewing current budget structures, fund flows, and potential revenue sources.
The role will involve conducting fiscal space analysis, examining expenditure patterns, assessing the impacts of tax policies such as VAT exemptions, and identifying feasible financing pathways for scaling up old-age income guarantees. The PFM Specialist will contribute to the drafting of the final report, taking the lead in preparing the section on fiscal space and financing options, including technical notes and annexes as required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Public Financial Management (PFM) Specialist will support the fiscal space and financing workstream of the Old Age Social Protection Floor (SPF) study. Working closely with the Team Leader and the Sr. Economist, the Specialist will undertake analysis and government engagement to identify sustainable financing options for expanding the social pension. Specific responsibilities include:

1. Government Engagement and Data Collection

• Engage with key government agencies (e.g., DBM, DOF, DSWD, NEDA, BIR, PSA) to gather data required for fiscal space and financing analysis.
• Collect information on current and projected budget allocations for the social pension and related social protection programs.
• Obtain data on revenue performance, expenditure ceilings, fiscal consolidation efforts, and taxation policies relevant to financing expansion.

 2. Fiscal Space Analysis

• Conduct analysis of financing options for scaling up the social pension, including potential reallocation of expenditures, efficiency gains, and enhanced revenue generation.
• Review and assess the impact of VAT exemptions and other tax expenditures on fiscal space, including their distributional effects and implications for financing a universal or expanded benefit.
• Analyze fiscal trends, budget rigidities, and fiscal headroom to support long-term sustainability assessments of the SPF.

 3. Financing Options Assessment

• Identify feasible financing pathways for policy options under consideration, including budget reprioritization, tax reforms, social contribution mechanisms, and hybrid financing models.
• Work with the Sr. Economist to integrate financing scenarios into the costing and modelling outputs.
• Provide technical inputs on potential risks and trade-offs associated with each financing approach.

 4. Analysis, Reporting, and Knowledge Sharing

• Contribute to the Fiscal Space and Financing section of the final report.
• Prepare technical notes and annexes summarizing data sources, analytical methods, and recommended financing strategies.
• Ensure that fiscal space findings are aligned with modelling outputs, policy recommendations, and stakeholder feedback.
• Contribute to the workshop, including presenting key fiscal space findings and responding to technical queries.

DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINES

Deliverable / Milestone | Performance Indicator | Number of Days | Timeline

1. Government Engagement and Data Collection Completed

•  Meetings held with relevant agencies; financing and tax expenditure data collected
• 5 Days
• April 2026

2. Fiscal Space Analysis (Initial Findings)

• Preliminary analysis of financing options prepared, including assessment of VAT exemptions and budgetary/fiscal headroom
• 5 Days
• April 2025

3. Revised Fiscal Space and Financing Section + Annexes

• Finalized assessment incorporating team feedback and integrated annex for main SPF report
• 3 Days
• May 2026 

4. Presentation Inputs for the Workshop

• Preparation of slides and technical inputs for virtual presentation during two-day report workshop
• 2 Days
• June 2026

JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education:

• Advanced degree (master’s degree or higher) in Economics, Public Finance, Public Administration, Development Economics, or other related fields.
• Additional training in fiscal policy, public expenditure management, or taxation is an advantage.

Minimum Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in public financial management, fiscal policy analysis, or government budgeting.
• Demonstrated experience working with national government agencies such as DOF, DBM, NEDA, or Congress on fiscal or financing issues.
• Proven experience in analyzing fiscal space, conducting budget reviews, or preparing financing options for social sector programs.
• Familiarity with tax expenditures, particularly VAT exemptions, and their implications for revenue and fiscal capacity.
• Prior involvement in social protection financing assessments or costing exercises is preferred.

Essential Skills:

• Strong analytical skills in fiscal modelling, budget analysis, and revenue assessment.
• Ability to interpret government financial data, tax expenditure reports, and public expenditure reviews.
• Excellent writing skills with demonstrated ability to draft clear, concise technical sections for reports, policy notes, or budget briefs.
• Strong communication and engagement skills for interacting with government counterparts and technical experts.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and integrate fiscal insights into broader policy and modelling frameworks.
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of GEDSI principles, with knowledge or experience in promoting gender equality, disability, and social inclusion especially within adaptive programs like SPRING. This includes a clear understanding of and practical experience in safeguarding, particularly in the context of child protection (CP) and Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH), with the ability to integrate safeguarding measures into program implementation.
• Compliance to DFAT policies on fraud control, financing terrorism, child protection and other social safeguards.

APPLICATION PROCESS

This is a rolling recruitment. Applications will be reviewed and vetted sequentially as they are received. We encourage interested individuals to apply as early as possible.

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Cowater international strives to maintain a fair, transparent, and human centered recruitment process. As part of our commitment to responsible hiring practices and compliance with evolving recruitment regulations, we may use AI assisted tools to support limited aspects of our talent acquisition workflow, such as reviewing or shortlisting applications. These tools are used only to enhance efficiency and consistency in our processes. All assessments, interviews, and final hiring decisions are made exclusively by our human recruiting managers. Candidates may request additional information about the use of these tools or reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.

About the Organization

ABOUT US
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.